Chapter 4- The Wedding

Harry Potter and the others arrived at Grimmauld Place an hour later. Harry was sad to be back at this place, because it brought back memories of his dead godfather, Sirius Black.

When they entered, Harry could hear Mrs. Black's screeching voice from her portrait, "HOW DARE YOU HALF-BREEDS COME BACK, BESMIRCHING MY HOUSE WITH YOUR FILTH!"

Mrs. Weasley hurriedly went over to the screeching portrait and pulled the curtain back to cover the portrait, and silence fills the air. Lupin motioned for Harry to follow him to the dining room. The last time Harry was in the dining room, Sirius was eating the dinner with all of them and was bored out of his mind due to the fact that Dumbledore wouldn't let him out of the house to help them on Order of the Phoenix Business.

Lupin looked around the room slowly and Harry's eyes followed Lupin's gaze to the refrigerator where Kreacher's bed and photo of Bellatrix have disappeared. Harry assumed Dumbledore took Kreacher's things on to Hogwarts, when Dumbledore came to talk to Kreacher two years ago.

"Harry, I just wanted to see how you're doing, with Dumbledore's death and all," Lupin said with concern. "Dumbledore was a great man, and he would be proud of you right now. I'm sure Professor McGonagall is, too."

"Why would they be proud of me?" Harry replied, "All these years, I have caused enough trouble! Three people have died because of me. Cedric Diggory, Sirius Black, and now Dumbledore!"

"Harry, Dumbledore didn't get killed by you." Lupin said, shaking his head. "It was Severus Snape who killed him. Dumbledore sacrificed his life for you, so did Sirius and Cedric. Now, I'm sure this year at Hogwarts will be hard without Dumbledore there, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here, and so is Professor McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley."

Harry said, "I'm not going to Hogwarts this year, and neither are Ron and Hermione."

Lupin was surprised, and he said, "Why not, Harry? I'm sure Dumbledore would have wanted you to finish school. I know you're closer in finding a way to defeat Voldemort, but that shouldn't stop your education."

Harry looked at Lupin, and wondered if he could trust Lupin with the information Dumbledore had told him.

Harry felt he could trust Lupin enough, so he decided to tell Lupin about the Horcruxes.

Harry said, "Professor, I'm about to tell you something that's important to defeating Voldemort, but this doesn't go out of the room, not even Mrs. Weasley can know this. Dumbledore made me promise not to tell anyone, except Ron and Hermione. I feel I can trust you now enough to tell you."

Harry began explaining about the Horcruxes, and about Dumbledore's lessons with him, and how Dumbledore explained it was important to know about Voldemort's past, because it may be a key into defeating Voldemort.

Just then, the door opened, and Mrs. Weasley was standing there looking shocked and disappointed. Moody and Tonks were right behind her, looking embarrassed. Ron and Hermione were scowling at Mrs. Weasley, who was holding a pair of Extendable Ears in her hands.

Tonks said, "Molly, there may be an explanation of why Harry's not going to school. We haven't heard the rest of his story.
Mrs. Weasley turned to look at Tonks, and she said tersely, "Nymphadora, I'm not going to let my son Ronald drop out of school, just so he and Hermione can join Harry on his adventures in defeating You Know Who. I have already had two sons who dropped out of school, and I'm not letting that happen again!"

Harry said, "I never meant for you to find out this way, Mrs. Weasley."

Mrs. Weasley was about to reply, when Lupin interrupted, "Molly, before you say anything, just remember Harry, Ron, and Hermione are almost of age."

Just then, Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Bill, and Charlie came out of the fireplace. Mr. Weasley looked haggard and tired than ever. Harry figured his new job must be causing stress and making him tired. Harry didn't even look at Ginny, because he still felt guilty about breaking up with her. Charlie had returned from Romania as soon as he heard of Dumbledore's death, and also to be able to go to Bill's wedding, which was tomorrow.

Bill immediately came to Harry and said, "Harry, I would like for you to be a groomsman in the wedding."

Harry said, "Sure, Bill. Where's Fleur? I notice she didn't come home with you."

Bill said, "Fleur's with her family right now. It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. The reason we're staying here at Grimmauld Place is because some of my relatives are coming for the wedding, plus the Delacours are staying here tomorrow night after the wedding, so if we stayed at the Burrow, it would be pretty crowded. I know this is your house, but Mum said she had already asked Dumbledore when she was at Hogwarts after Ron was attacked. Dumbledore said it was okay."

Meanwhile, Mr. Weasley was admonishing Mrs. Weasley on her journey to Privet Drive by herself. Mr. Weasley thought it was foolish of her to go out there by herself, now with Dumbledore gone, and the war still going on.

The Next Day, Harry was awakened by Mrs. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley told Harry that he had best get dressed, and get down to breakfast. She left the room, and went to get Hermione and Ginny. Harry and Ron went down to the kitchen, where Mr. Weasley was sitting at the table reading the Daily Prophet, with a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of him. Mrs. Weasley entered the room, followed by Hermione and Ginny. Mrs. Weasley conjured up 5 more plates, and the plates landed on the table.

Mrs. Weasley was eating anxiously, and murmuring, "My baby boy all grown up…."

Mr. Weasley said, "Molly, don't worry. This is a special day for Bill and Fleur. Charlie, Fred and George, are already at the Ministry setting up for the wedding."

Harry said, "The wedding's at the Ministry?"
Mrs. Weasley said, "Yes, it's part of the wizarding tradition to get married at the Ministry. Dumbledore used to officiate at all the weddings. He was the one who married me and Arthur."

Ron was trying to say something, but he had his mouth full of eggs. "Mrm, Whomelseisgoingtobeatthewedding?"

Mrs. Weasley sighed and replied sternly, "Ronald, don't talk with your mouth full."

Ron swallowed his eggs in one whole bite, and he said, "Mum, who else is going to be at the wedding?"

Mrs. Weasley was counting off her fingers, "Let's see….There will be Great Auntie Muriel, Uncle Bilius, Remus, Nymphadora, Alastor, and a few others. You better get changed in your tuxedos. Harry, I put your tuxedo on your bed. It's all ready for you."

Harry and Ron ran to their bedroom. Harry's tuxedo was a bright maroon color, and Ron's tuxedo was the same. Hermione and Ginny came into their room, wearing their pink bridesmaid dresses.

Hermione's hair was pulled back into a knot on the back of her head, and she had made some strands of her hair curly. Ron was gaping at Hermione, with his mouth open.

Hermione said, "What's wrong, Ron?"

Ron stammered, "You-You-You look pretty."

Ginny rolled her eyes and stormed out muttering, "Oh, brother."

Hermione was beaming, when she and Ron followed Harry downstairs to the front door. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were already dressed in their best clothes.

Mr. Weasley had on a black tuxedo, and a top hat on his head. He also had a walking stick in his hands. Mrs. Weasley had her red hair all puffed up and it was all curly. She had on a dark coral green dress, and a tiara was in her hair, shimmering in the reflection of the sunlight.

Mrs. Weasley said, "Hello, dears. My, you all look nice." She bent down to straighten up Harry's bow tie, and then kissed Ron on the cheek. Ron's face went all pink.

Mr. Weasley said, "We're taking the Ministry car this time."

Harry noticed he didn't see Bill all morning, and he said, "Mr. Weasley, where's Bill? Isn't he supposed to be going with us to the Ministry?"
Mr. Weasley chuckled and said, "No, it's our custom that the bride and groom get to sleep late on their wedding day, then the parents and guests, plus bridesmaids and groomsmen gets to the wedding early before the bride and groom does."

The Ministry car got to the Ministry a few minutes later, and Harry had to stay still in the crowded phone booth. Finally, when they got to the Atrium, Eric Munch the guard, looked up at Mr. Weasley and said, "Ah, Mr. Weasley, you're all dressed up. Going to a wedding?"
Mr. Weasley said, "Yes, my son's wedding."
Eric said, "Oh really? Congratulations!" He looked at a register, then said, " The wedding is down the hall, in the Ministry, in Courtroom 10."

They entered Courtroom 10, and Harry gasped. The chair that he sat in during the hearing two years ago, was gone. Instead, there were ice sculptures all around the room. Icicles were hanging from the ceiling, and long benches were in the middle of the courtroom, with white tinsels draped all over them. Charlie and the twins were busy getting down a white carpet, and a voice behind Harry said, "I see you have arrived early, Arthur."

They turned around to see Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister of Magic, all decked out in yellow. While Mr. Weasley and the others were busy talking to Scrimgeour, Harry was looking at a huge wall portrait that had an old man who was sitting in a large chair. The bottom of the portrait had a plaque that said,

"In Honor

of Albus Dumbledore"

Harry was puzzled, so he stepped back, and saw that it was indeed Dumbledore who was sitting in the portrait. Harry suddenly felt sad, when he noticed Dumbledore winking his cerulean eye at him.

Harry whispered, "Dumbledore, it can't be."

Ron came up behind Harry, and said, "Harry, are you okay? Dumbledore was honored at the Ministry after his death, and the Minister felt that Dumbledore should be honored, and decided to hang his portrait in one of the Wizengamot chambers."

Harry looked up at the portrait, and Dumbledore had returned to his still position. Dumbledore was wearing purple robes, and his beard was all over his shoulder.

Harry suddenly broke down, and Mrs. Weasley came up, looking worried.
Mrs. Weasley took Harry's hand and guided him to a bench, and she sat down beside Harry.
"Are you okay, Harry? I know you miss Dumbledore a lot. Arthur and I do, too. Dumbledore was a good man. I just can't believe he's gone."
Harry looked up to see tears rolling down Mrs. Weasley's face.
Harry said, "Mrs. Weasley, you better stop crying, and save the tears until the wedding."
Mrs. Weasley wiped her tears away, and smiled. She said, "You're right, Harry. Why don't you go see if Charlie needs any help?"

Harry went over to where Charlie and the twins were busy trying to make sure the ice sculptures would stay still, because the ice centaurs were chasing after some ice mermaids.

Charlie said, "Well, don't you look nice! Harry, I just wanted to say I'm sorry about Professor Dumbledore. I wish I had been at the funeral, but I couldn't get away from Romania as soon as I hoped to be."

Harry said, "At least, you're going to see your brother get married."

Charlie said, "Yes. And what is this I hear about you treating my sister like she doesn't exist anymore?"

Harry blinked in surprise. "How did you know about me and Ginny breaking up?"

Charlie said, "Ginny cried all the way home after the funeral, and she told Fred and George what happened. Fred and George told me about it."

Harry sighed and said, "I did it to protect Ginny. I didn't want her to get hurt by Voldemort anymore. She has been through a lot, and I didn't want her to go through all the pain that Ron, Hermione, and I have been going through." Charlie winced at the name of Voldemort.

A voice from behind Harry said, "You really mean what you said, Harry?"
Harry and Charlie turned to see Ginny standing there, looking surprised.
Harry said, "Yes, I love you so much that I don't want you to get hurt. That's why I had to break up with you."

Ginny cried out, "Oh, Harry!" and ran into Harry's arms, sobbing on Harry's tuxedo.

An hour later, Professor McGonagall arrived, wearing black ceremonial robes. A few moments later, Professors Flitwick and Sprout arrived. Flitwick was wearing a green tuxedo, and Sprout's flyaway hair was wrapped in a purple hat, and she had on a turquoise dress.

Lupin, Tonks, and Moody arrived right after Flitwick and Sprout. Hagrid and Madame Maxime came in, arm in arm.

Professors Flitwick and Sprout went to sit in a bench in the middle.

Professor McGonagall went up to the dais, and she barked, " Let the rest of the guests in."

The doors opened, and many red headed relatives ran down the aisle, and sat in benches. Pretty soon, a graceful blonde old lady walked in, pushing her spectacles up, which had jewels embedded onto the frames. The old lady sat down in a bench on the bride's side, and then Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came in, arm in arm, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Delacour. Everyone was seated, then Professor McGonagall said, "Thank you everyone for coming. I know you may be wondering why I am officiating today. Usually, Professor Dumbledore would officiate the ceremony, but now that he has passed on, it's my turn to officiate. Now let the groomsmen and bridesmaids in!" She flicked her wand, then a back door opened. Harry, Ron, Charlie, Fred and George ran up to their positions, while Gabrielle, Hermione, Ginny, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell went up to their positions.

Professor McGonagall said, "Now let's b-", but she was interrupted by the door opening. Percy Weasley came in, looking around the room. He said to Professor McGonagall, "I'm sorry I am late."

Mrs. Weasley burst into tears, then ran up the aisle to hug Percy. She dragged Percy off to sit beside her and Mr. Weasley.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, and said, "Now, let's begin the ceremony!"

The doors opened, and Bill entered the room. He looked around the room, and noticed Percy sitting with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and when he got to the dais, he whispered in Professor McGonagall's ear. Professor McGonagall nodded then barked, "Will Percy Weasley please come up here?"

Percy looked surprised, and went to the dais.

Professor McGonagall said, "Mr. Weasley, your brother has asked for you to be his best man, if you would accept the honor of doing it."

Percy was all emotional, he grabbed Bill in a hug, then nodded. Mrs. Weasley burst into tears again. Professor McGonagall was smiling, and Harry noticed Dumbledore was beaming proudly.

McGonagall said, "Ok, now let the bride enter!" Everyone rose from their seats, even Dumbledore had gotten out of his chair.

The door opened, and Fleur entered, all clad in white, wearing Great-Auntie Muriel's tiara, and she was escorted by none other than Viktor Krum!

Hermione looked surprised, and Ron looked furious.

Fleur stopped by to kiss her grandmother on the cheek, then continued on to the dais.

Krum gave Fleur away to Bill.

Professor McGonagall made a gesture for everyone to sit back down.

Krum went to sit down beside Rufus Scrimgeour, who was in the same row as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

McGonagall said, "Today we're here to join a man and woman in union. We're here to join Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour here on this special day. Now, Bill, do you have any vows to say to Fleur?"

Bill said, "Yes, Professor, if you will make this an UnBreakable Vow." Harry heard gasps from the audience, even Mrs. Weasley was gasping. Professor McGonagall nodded, then put Fleur and Bill's hand together. She took her wand out, and ropes came out, and bound their hands together.

Bill said, "Fleur, I love you so much, even I'd die for you. Fleur, it's my honor to have you as my wife. I will spend the rest of my life taking care of you in sickness and health." McGonagall was sniffling, and then she said, "Fleur, do you have anything to add?"

Fleur nodded, and said, "Ze will love each other forever. I love you, Bill Zeasley." Professor McGonagall nodded, then she conjured wineglasses and said, "Drink this to seal your vows." Bill and Fleur both drank the wine.

Professor McGonagall said, "I pronounce you man and wife. I'm proud to present Mr. and Mrs. Bill Weasley." Rings suddenly appeared on Bill's and Fleur's fingers. Everyone clapped when Bill and Fleur left the room. Mrs. Weasley was sobbing loudly as Mr. Weasley escorted her out the room.

Professor McGonagall said, "The reception is at Grimmauld Place. The parents of the groom would like to invite you to come spend some time with them as they celebrate their son's new beginning."

Everyone was leaving, and Harry was about to leave, when McGonagall said, "POTTER! I would like to speak to you before we leave for Grimmauld Place."

Harry joined McGonagall at the dais, and McGonagall didn't look too happy.
Professor McGonagall frowned, "What is this I hear from Molly that you, Granger, and Weasley are not going back to Hogwarts?"

Harry said, "Professor, I can't tell you. Dumbledore made me promise."
McGonagall sighed and said, "Dumbledore's dead. I'm sure he would want me to know whatever what it was that he shared with you. Too bad you're not coming back to Hogwarts. You would have made a good Head Boy."

Professor McGonagall disappeared, leaving Harry looking surprised. He went to join Ron and Hermione, who were waiting in the hall.

At Grimmauld Place, everyone was mingling around, even a lady with flaming red hair stopped to greet Harry.

"Harry Potter, I have heard so much about you. Molly didn't mention to me that you look so handsome!" Harry blushed, and the lady said, " I'm Muriel Prewett, Molly's great aunt, and the tiara that the bride wore, once belonged to me."

Harry tried to get away from Great-Auntie Muriel because Harry thought of her as odd, but every time she found him with Ron.

Ron exclaimed, "Harry, there's Uncle Bilius! You have to come meet him!" He grabbed Harry, and led him through a crowd to the kitchen, where a man with red hair with grey streaks in it, was talking to Lupin.

Ron said, "Uncle Bilius! I would like for you to meet Harry Potter."

Bilius turned to look at Harry and said, "Harry Potter, so nice to meet you at last! My brother Arthur has talked about you all the time, and I have always wanted to meet you." He shook Harry's hand. Harry was surprised Mr. Weasley had a brother, but he thought Bilius Weasley was nice.

Suddenly the door burst open, and the figure standing in the doorway belonged to none other than Severus Snape!

Snape said, "I'm looking for Minerva McGonagall. I need to speak to her."